For the first time, dinosaur fossils have been discovered in Hong Kong. A fragmentary, fossilized bone from a large Cretaceous-period dinosaur, dating back between 145 and 66 million years, was found on Port Island, a UNESCO Global Geopark, the Hong Kong government revealed. Though the bone fragments are small and heavily weathered, further studies will aim to determine the exact species of the dinosaur.
“This discovery is incredibly exciting,” said Michael Pittman, a dinosaur specialist and assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Pittman emphasized the rarity of finding dinosaur fossils in Hong Kong, which, while having suitable geological layers, has lacked such discoveries until now. The finding marks a milestone for local researchers, who now have their first fossil evidence of dinosaurs to study, adding to Hong Kong’s previous records of marine and plant fossils from hundreds of millions of years ago.
The conditions of the bone fragments indicate that the dinosaur may have been buried in sand and gravel, later exposed by flooding before being reburied in its current location. The fossil site has been closed to facilitate further investigations, and public excitement is mounting as the fossils will soon be on display at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre.
Pittman noted that Hong Kong’s fossil discovery is also a significant addition to China’s prolific paleontological record, as nearby Guangdong has yielded extensive finds, including thousands of dinosaur egg fossils. With more study and possible future finds, researchers hope to gain deeper insights into the ancient life that once roamed Hong Kong.
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